Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Opens Charlotte Office With Veteran Finance Lawyers Mike Wielechowski and Nathan Fuller, Plus Associate Kerri DeRuyter

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, a national law firm with 450 lawyers and government relations professionals, announced today that it will open a Charlotte, NC office with three local banking and finance lawyers – shareholder Mike Wielechowski, counsel Nathan Fuller and associate Kerri DeRuyter. The firm is seeking office space in Uptown Charlotte with plans to open in the next two weeks.

"Establishing an office in Charlotte has been part of the firm's strategic plan for some time," stated Buchanan's CEO and Managing Shareholder Jack Barbour, a 1976 graduate of nearby Davidson College. "With major clients in the financial services sector, we have been looking for the right team to run an office in Charlotte, and Mike was the perfect choice to lead that team at the right time."

Buchanan counts among its clients most of the largest financial institutions in the country, and Charlotte is the nation's second largest financial center by assets. In addition to serving as the headquarters location for Bank of America and the East Coast operations of Wells Fargo Bank, Charlotte is also a key market for Fifth Third Bank, RBS Citizens and PNC Bank, which recently acquired Raleigh-based RBC Bank and its 424 branches located throughout the Carolinas, Virginia and south to Florida.

Wielechowski, who moved to Charlotte from Pittsburgh seven years ago after working in-house at PNC Bank, handles syndicated loans, mid-market deals and bilateral deals for clients in the financial services industry, including PNC Bank and Fifth Third Bank. "With Buchanan's impeccable reputation in the banking industry and diverse practice strengths, my decision to open the firm's Charlotte office was an easy one," stated Wielechowski. He will lead the firm's Charlotte office and plans to double the number of attorneys there in the upcoming year.

About Wielechowski
Mike Wielechowski's primary areas of practice are finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, general corporate representation and corporate compliance. He has also represented franchisers and franchisees. His finance practice focuses on representing financial institutions, funds and other lenders concerning all aspects of secured and unsecured loan products to large corporate, middle market and private banking clients, including revolving credit facilities, bridge and term loans, leverage finance, real estate finance, asset-based finance, capex facilities and syndicated finance.

Wielechowski received his J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and his B.S. degree in biology from San Diego State University. He was recognized as a North Carolina Rising Star in Banking in Super Lawyers 2012.

About Fuller
Nathan C. Fuller practices in the areas of commercial finance, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate. He focuses primarily on representing administrative agents, lenders and borrowers in single bank and syndicated commercial finance transactions, and he has significant experience in leveraged healthcare finance.

Fuller received his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and his B.S.B.A. from Ohio State University.

About DeRuyter
Kerri DeRuyter focuses primarily on representing and counseling financial institutions, funds and other lenders concerning all aspects of secured and unsecured loan products to large corporate, middle market and private banking clients. Her practice also includes advising clients as to real estate and general corporate matters.

DeRuyter received her J.D. degree from Cornell Law School and her B.A. degree from Binghamton University.

About the Firm
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (www.bipc.com) has more than 450 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States, with offices in California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

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